Method of and apparatus for knitting



Jan. 23, 1940. WAECHTLER NETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING Sept. 1,1936 4'Sheets-Shee 1 Hg. /6 He. 7

Fla. 2

INVENTOR. K .3; Wm

7 A TTORNEY.

K. WAECHTLER 2,187,715

' "ETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING Filed Sept.- 1. 19 366! 4Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE Y.

Jan. 23, 1940. K. WAECHTLER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 1, 193 6 IN l E N TOR A TTORNEY.

Jan. 23, 1940.

K. WAECHTLER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING Filed Sept. 1, 1936 I4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEMETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR KNITTING 24 Claims.

My invention is an improved method of and apparatus for knitting wherebyyarn may be bent with a minimum of friction into loops having a uniformand constant tension so as to produce a more regular and perfect fabric.

My improvements permit the simplification of the needle-operating andcatch bar-operating mechanism of a full-fashioned knitting machine, anddecreases the noise due to the operation thereof, smooths and balancesthe movements of the parts, and decreases the power required. By myimprovements the needle bar and catch bar may be moved, respectively,toward their upper and rearward positions by the actions of cams insteadof springs, and may be placed under continuously operative cam controlswhich are balanced against one another, thereby permitting eliminationof heavy springs and minimizing vibration and the amount of powerrequired for operating the machine. The elimination of heavy springs forelevating the needle bar and retracting the catch bar, the gradualcurvature of the cams, and the substantial balancing against one anotherof the actions of the cams for operating these members, permits thestoppage of a the machine in any position without danger of the camshaft being turned backward or forward by unbalanced stresses thereon,and eliminates the necessity of back stops for the cam shaft.

In accordance with my improved method a yarn under tension is bent tosimultaneously form on opposite sides of a needlea pair of bights ofyarn connected by an open loop having legs engaging such needle onopposite sides thereof. Preferably the needles are arranged in astraight line or bank, and bights of yarn are formed on opposite sidesof the active needles of the bank in succession by bending the yarn toform simultaneously on opposite sides of the alternate active needles apair of bights of yarn connected by open loops having legs engaging eachsuch alternate needle on opposite sides thereof. The formation of eachsucceeding pair of bights is preferably commenced after the formation ofthe next preceding pair of bights is completed to permit free running ofthe yarn to form each pair of bights in turn, but the overlapping of thebight formation will not materially mar the fabric provided theinitiation of the succeeding pair of bights does not impose too great africtional retardation on the completion of the preceding pair ofbights. Thebightformed on oneside of one needle is connected with abight formed on the opposite side of the next alternate needle by anopen loop having legs which engage the intermediate needle on oppositesides thereof.

In the preferred practice of my invention, each needle is supported onboth sides thereof during the bending of the yarn to form loops there-.on, such support being provided adjacent to the points of engagement ofthe yarn therewith so as to prevent bending of the needles toward oraway from one another as a result of the pull incident to the bending ofthe yarn. The loops are formed on all the active needles of the bankwhile the latter is stationary, and the entire length of yarn bent intobights is simultaneously knitted by the movements of the needles.

My new method of knitting on a bank of needles by bending yarn to formpairs of equal bights in succession, the bights of each pair beingformed simultaneously, is preferably e1- fected by securing the bank ofneedles in the needle bar of a full-fashioned silk hosiery knittingmachine of the Cotton type and providing means for bending a yarn toform a pair of bights on opposite sides of alternate needles of suchbank. Such means preferably includes yam-bending blades slidable betweeneach of the adjacent needles, and means for consecutively advancingsuccessive pairs of blades between the needles. The blades arepreferably fixed together to form twin units consisting of a pair ofspaced blades having a wide heel or rear edge adapted for the directengagement of a slur cam so as to minimize noise, wear, power and numberof parts. Jacks may, however, be interposed between the slur cam andheels of the twin units, and when used the jacks are preferably operatedby having the reciprocable slur cam engage the jacks adjacent to theplane of the yarn and the Jacks are provided with heads approximatelythe width of the heels of the twin units to resist wear and preventslippage thereof between adjacent units. Each unit also has a verticalbutt for intermittent engagement by a catch bar, which may be given asubstantially continuous gradual movement elimihating shock and strain.

The blades of each unit are preferably notched so that yarn laid by ayarn carrier is supported by one of the blades and the yarn carrier canbe stopped in front of the other of the blades without interfering withthe operation of the unit. Each blade has a nose projecting forwardlyfrom the apex of its notch a substantially greater distance than themaximum distances that such apices move beyond the line of the needles.The yarn bending portion of the movement of each succeeding unitpreferably begins after the yarn bending portion of the movement of thenext preceding unit has been completed, but the noses of a succeedingunit are advanced well beyond the needle line before the apices of thenotches of the blades of the next preceding unit has reached the line ofneedles, all of which are held stationary during the entire yarn bendingoperations. Consequently, each needle of the bank is supported by ablade nose on each side thereof and immediately adjacent thereto beforesuch needle is subjected to any stress from the looping of the yarnthereon or on any other needle.

By thus supporting the needles on both sides thereof and adjacent to thepoint of engagement of the yarn therewith, the entanglement of needlessuch as occurs during usual sinker movements and the breakage ofentangled needles such as occurs during usual divider movements iscompletely avoided.

Upon the completion of the bending of the yarn to form a loop on eachneedle of the active portion of the bank of needles, the latter may beimmediately moved downward and inward toward a presser bar, which ispreferably provided with a curved surface for engagement by andeffecting the closure of the beards or latches of the needles, each loopof yarn being meanwhile maintained under the same uniform tension, underwhich it was bent, by the retraction of the yarn bending blades insynchronism with the presserward movement of the needles. The retractionof the blades may be effected by means of a catch bar, which is out ofengagement with the butts of the blade units during the entirecouliering action, during which it is gradually advanced toward buttengaging position in a substantially continuous cyclic movement.

My improvements eliminate the necessity for any outward movement of theneedles following couliering, and permit the formation of loops oflarger size than is possible where an outward needle-bar movement isrequisite to prevent yarn breakage during formation of loops bydividers. The avoidance of the necessity of outward needle-bar movementafter couliering and during subdivision of usual loops by dividersgreatly facilitates the knitting of yarns composed of or containingrubber or elastic threads.

Further characteristics and advantages of my invention will appear fromthe following description and the accompanying drawings in illustrationthereof.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic enlarged fragmentaryview of a knitting head embodying features of my improved apparatus andsuitable for the practice of my improved method, and illustrating thepositions of certain parts during couliering and the laying and bendingof the yarn; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the positions of partsupon the completion of couliering; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing thepositions of parts after the bank of needles moves toward beard-closingposition; Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic fragmentary transversesection through a knitting head showing the parts in approximately theposition shown in Fig. 2: Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing thefirst step of the knitting cycle when the bank of needles moves downwardto engage the yarn beneath the beards of the needles; Fig. 6 shows afurther step of the needle cycle in which the needle beards are rockedagainst the presser plate and the yarn bending blades are simultaneouslyretracted by the catch bar to avoid strain on the yarn; Fig. '7 shows afurther step in the knitting cycle in which the bank of needles isrocked away from the presser plate and the yarn bending blades arefurther retracted by the catch bar to permit the loops to be drawn offand down onto the knock-over bits and drawn through the previouslyformed loops of the fabric; Fig. 8 is a top plan view, Fig. 9 is a rearelevation, and Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one form of yarn-bendingunit embodied in my invention; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary rear elevationof the slotted bed in which slide the units illustrated in Figs. 8, 9and 10; Fig. 12 is a top plan view, Fig. 13 is a rear elevation, andFig. 14 is a side elevation of a modified form of yarn-bending unitembodied in my invention; Fig. 15 is a fragmentary rear elevation of theslotted bed in which slide the units illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14;Fig, 16 is a side elevation, and Fig. 17 is a rear edge elevation of oneof the jacks which may be used for operating the yarn-bending units;Fig. 18 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view illustrating theapplication of my improvements to a standard form of full-fashioned silkhosiery knitting machine of the "Cotton" type; Fig. 19 is a detachedelevation of the presser operating mechanism of the apparatus shown inFig. 18 in a second position; Fig. 20 is a detached view of the presserregulating mechanism shown in Figs. 18 and 19 in a third position; Fig.21 is a front elevation of the presser regulating mechanism shown inFig. 20; Fig. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional viewshowing a modification of the arrangement of slur cam and jacks shown inFig. 18; Fig. 23 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of aknitting machine of the general type shown in Fig. 18 with improvementsin the structure, balance and operation thereof made possible by myimprovements; and Fig. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the slurcam and yarn bending unit of Fig. 23, but which is equally applicable tothe machine shown in Fig. 18.

As illustrated in the drawings, a yarn A from a suitable source ofsupply is laid under tension by a carrier I along a bank of beardedneedles 2 and 2' which may be fixed in the needle bar 3 of afull-fashioned silk hosiery machine of the Cotton type.

In accordance with my invention, the yarn so laid is bent to formsuccessively simultaneously formed pairs of bights a. and a of equalsize on opposite sides of each alternate needle 2 of the bank. Thebights a, a of each pair are connected by an open loop a." having legsengaging such needle 2 on opposite sides thereof, and the bight a of onepair is connected with the bight a of the next succeeding pair by anopen loop a' each of which has legs engaging opposite sides of anintervening needle 2' of the bank between the needles 2.

This bending of the yarn around the needles is preferably effected bymeans of yarn-bending units 4 each composed of a pair of yarn-bendingblades 5 and 6 containing yarn engaging notches 1 and 8. The blades ofeach unit are movable together normal to the axis of the needle 2complementary to such unit, the blades lying on opposite sides of theneedle in close juxtaposition to the circumference thereof. Preferablythe yar: engagement by each unit begins after the completion of the loopforming movement of the next preceding unit, and the noses of theyarnbending blades are of such length that before ale-1, 115

the notches of one pair of blades engage the yarn the noses of the nextsucceeding pair of blades has advanced to or beyond the line of needles.Hence the tendency to bend the needles by the pull or stress thereonresulting from the bending of the yarn about a needle is resisted by theblades on both sides of such needle, and which provide support for theneedles adjacent to the points where the yarn engages therewith.

For example, when the pair of blades of the second unitla shown at theleft in Fig. 1 is advanced toward the needles, the noses of these bladesare positioned on opposite sides of the needle 2 second ,from the leftbefore the notches 7 and 8 thereof engage the yarn A to for..1 thesecond pair of bights a, a, thereby supporting this needle on both sidesthereof. The movement of the third unit 4b is sufficiently behind thesecond unit 4a to permit the free running of the yarn to form the secondpair of bights a, a" before substantial frictional retardation of theyarn by the engagement therewith of the notches of the blades of thethird unit 417. The moveinent of the fourth unit 40 is behind the thirdunit 4b suflicient to permit the free running of the yarn to form thethird pair of bights a, a,

and so on.

The noses of the blades project beyond the notches a materially greaterdistance than the projection of the bights a, a beyond the needle line.Consequently the noses of the blades of the third unit 4b, andpreferably also the noses of the blades of a number of succeeding units4c, 4d and 4e, will have advanced between the needles before the notchesland 8 of the blades of the third unit 41) engage theyarn. Consequentlyeach needle about which loops are being formed, as well as theintermediate needle about which a bight is being formed on only one side(as, for instance, the fourth needle from the left in Fig. 1) issupported adjacent the point of engagement of the yarn by the blades oneach side thereof against bending toward or away from any other needle.There is thus overcome the tendency of needles to become entangled durngthe formation of usual sinker loops and for the breaking of suchentangled needles by the usual simultaneous advance of dividers and thedownward movement of the needles between the knock over bits.

When all of the yarn bending units have been advanced to the limit oftheir movement in accordance with my invention, each needle. of.

the active section of the bank Will have had formed thereon a knittingloop requiring no sub division and of an appropriate size, which may beregulated by suitably positioning the bank of needles relative to thelimit of movement of the yarn-bending units during the bending of theyarn.- The elimination of the need for moving the needles outward topermit sub-division of the yarn by dividers makes possible a much widervariation in loop sizes than has been heretofore possible with needlebars having the same limit of movement, and also makes possible theprovision of considerably greater clearance for the carriers when loopsof usual size are being formed, since for loops of a given size formedin accordance with my invention the needles may be positioned during thelaying of the yarn in approximately the position they would occupy aftertheir outward movement with the dividers when loops are formed asheretofore by the sep-.

arate action of sinkers and dividers.

The yam-bending units of my invention may 3 be conveniently formed foroperation in slightly modified forms of standard type of sinker bed,such as indicated in Fig. 11, by riveting a spring steel blade 5 havingthe general outline of a standard sinker and a spring steel blade '6having the general outline of a standard divider to a spacer l and catchbar butts II by means of rivets l2. The spacer and catch bar butt anglesare receded from the upper and lower edges of the blades and 6 so as topermit such edges to slide freely in the narrow slots or grooves I 3 inthe bed l4, which bed is provided with the curved presser bar surface l5and to which is fixed adjustably the verge plate I 6. The vertical rearedges of the blades 5 and 6, spacer I 0 and butts H are flush with oneanother and provide a relatively wide bearing surface for the engagementof an actuator, which may be either a slur cam, as shown in Figs. 23 and24, or an enlarged head I! of a jack lever l8 which is fulcrumed on arod l9. and operable by a slur cam 20, as shown in Figs. 18 and 22.

As shown in Fig. 18, the slur cam 20 may engage the rear edges of jacklevers l8 at about the center thereof, measured from the jack axle tothe upper end pressing against the sinkers, as is necessitated in usualconstructions by the rearwardly projecting ends of the usual dividers.But since my improvements eliminate the usual rearwardly projectingextensions of the dividers, it is possible and preferable, when jacksare used at all, to elevate the slur cam and its associated parts asillustrated in Fig. 22 so that the operating contact of the slur camwith the rear edges of the jack levers is substantially in the plane ofthe yarn-bending units. By this rearrangement, the distance from thefulcrum of the jacks to the operating contact with the units ispractically doubled, the resistance to the movement of the cam and therebound of the units from the verge bar is materially decreased, and theregularity of the loop formation improved.

A still better arrangement, however, is to eliminate the jacksaltogether, and elevate the slur bar and extend the slur cam forward sothat its cam edges make direct engagement with the heels of the yarnbending units, as shown in Figs. 23 and 24.

These rearrangements make possible more accurate adjustment between theverge plate and slur bar or jackbed and result in considerable reductionin the noise and wear'caused by the sliding of the slur cam over themembers enaged thereby and by the angles ll hitting the verge plate,since the rearrangements permit the accurate control of the units or ofthe jacks in' accordance with the theoretically correct shape of theslur cam.

As illustrated in Figs. 1.! yarn bending units may L-shaped slides 2|having vertically projecting butts H and adapted to slide in therelatively Wide slots 22 in the bed 23. The slides 2| have riveted tothe forward ends thereof the blade sections 5a having the generaloutline of the forepart of a sinker and the blade sections in. havingthe general outline of the forepart of a divider, so as to permit thestoppage of the yarn carrier I at desired points intermediate the ends.of the bank of needles.

The yarn-bending units are all advanced during the couliering movementuntil the vertical angle pieces H or II are engaged against the vergeplate l6, while the needle bar is stationy. On the completion ofcouliering, the needle to 15, inclusive, the consist of integral bardescends, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, so as to engage the loops a",a' under the beards of the needles 2 and 2'. Simultaneously with thisdescent of the needles, the catch bar 24 descends so thatits groove 25engages the top of the butts H or II. After the loops have been engagedbeneath the needle beards, the needles are moved by the needle bartoward the curved presser surface I5 to close the beards. This movementof the needles is accompanied by a corresponding movement rearwardly ofthe catch bar 24, which moves the yarn-dividing units rearwardly at thesame rate as the needles move rearwardly, so as to maintain a constantand uniform tension on the loops (Fig. 6). The catch bar continues itsrearward movement after the closure of the needle beards (Fig. '7) andwhile the needles are moved forwardly away from the presser bar anddownwardly so as to draw the loops under constant tension off of thenoses of the units and onto the elevated knock-over bits and downwardlythrough the previously formed loops of the fabric to form a new courseof closed loops. The needles then move inward and rise during a forwardand backward movement of the units, after which the catch bar isdisengaged from the butts l i or H which are left in position for thenext couliering or yarn laying sequence,

The actuation of the needle bar and the yarn dividing units, between thecouliering movements. may be effected by any suitable mechanism. Forinstance, the needle bar 3 may be secured (Fig. 18) to the brackets 30,which are pivotally mounted on the clamp levers 3i fixed to the rockingshaft 32. The shaft 32 is rocked to elevate and lower the needles in therequired sequenceby a lever 33 fixed to the shaft 32 and having thereona roller 34 which rides on the periphery of the cam 35 fixed to theusual rotatable main cam shaft 36 of the knitting machine. The bottom ofthe lever 33 is biased by a strong spring 31 fixed to the anchorage 38so as to tend to elevate the needle bar 3 and press the roller 34against the periphery of the cam 35 having the necessary high spots forrocking the lever to depress the needle bar.

The needle bar 3 may be rocked to move the needles toward and away fromthe presser surface by the links 39 fixed to the brackets 30 andpivotally connected with the links 40 having a handle 41 and containingnotches 42 and 43 for the selective engagement of a pin 44 fixed on thepresser lever 45 which is fixed on the journalled shaft 46. The lever 45is normally biased toward the left (Fig. 18) by having connected withits lower end a strong spring 41 fixed to a hook or anchorage 48 on theframe, whereby the needles are normally biased outward away from thepresser surface. Such biasing movement is lim-' ited, to regulate thesize of the loops, by the engagement of the lever 45 with a pin 49mounted on the lever arm 50 fixed to the journalled shaft 5| (Figs. 18andl9). A lever arm 52 (Figs. 19, 20 and 21) is fixed to the shaft 5|and has threaded in its upper end an adjusting screw 53 having a knurledhead 54 which may be held in adjusted position by a spring detent 55mounted on the arm 52 and engaging the knurled head 54. The lever 52 isnormally biased toward the left (Fig. 20) by means of a spring 56attached thereto and secured to a suitable anchorage (not shown) on theknitting machine frame. The biasing action of the spring 56 is limitedby the engagement of the screw 53 with a boss 51 on a curved lever 58having a hub 59 journalled on the shaft 5|. A regulating roller 60 ispivotally connected with the upper end of the lever 58 and engages theperiphery of the regulating cam 6| fixed on the main cam shaft 36.

During the couliering motion of the knitting machine, the roller 60engages a concentric segment of the periphery of the cam 5| and theneedle bar is thereby held stationary during the couliering motion. Theposition in which the needle bar is held stationary during thecouliering motion, and consequently the sizes of the loops, may beadjusted by screwing the regulating screw 53 in or out.

The periphery of the cam 6| has a lower or flattened section which movespast but is spaced from the roller '60 after couliering to permit thecontrol of the position of the lever 45 directly by the engagement ofits roller 62 with the periphery of the cam 63 to the right of the axisthereof. The cam 63 is fixed to the main cam shaft 35. The roller 52 isheld out of engagement with the cam 53 when the roller '60 is inengagement with the concentric position of the cam 5|. The periphery ofthe cam 53 is so shaped that, after the completion of the couliering, ittwice rocks the arm 15 outward so as to rock the needle bar and move theneedles into engagement with the surface of the presser bar to closetheir beards I during their downward movement and to again move theneedles toward the presser bar during their upper movement after havingknitted a course of loops.

The complementary movements of the catch bar 24 may be effected (Fig.18) by mounting it upon a link 55 pivotally connected at one end with alever 55 and having a ball and socket con nection at the other end witha link '61. The lever 65 is fixed to a journalled shaft 68 to which isfixed a lever arm 69 which is biased toward the right by a strong spring10 anchored to the frame hook 10' so as to tend to shift the catch bar24 toward the left (Fig. 18). The lever 59 is provided with a roller Hwhich engages the lower part of the periphery of a catch bar cam 12 atthe left of the axis thereof, such cam being fixed on the cam shaft 36and having a peripheral shape such as to rock the lever '69 against thebiasing action of the spring so as to move the catch bar 24 toward theright at the appropriate times.

The link 61 is pivotally connected with a lever arm 13 which is fixed onthe journalled shaft 14. A lever arm 15 is fixed to the shaft 14 andprovided with a roller 16 which engages the periphery of a cam 11 fixedon the cam shaft 36 and having the peripheral contour necessary toeffect the vertical upward movement of the catch bar 24 to disengage itfrom the butts II or II at the appropriate times. The catch bar normallydescending by reason of its own weight and the weight of the associatedparts.

By the elimination of dividers and the function thereof, it is madepracticable by my improvements to impart a substantially continuoussmooth gradual movement to the catch bar instead of the usualintermittent abrupt rapid movements thereof.

These advantages are attained in marked degree in the modifiedconstruction shown in Figs. 23 and 24 of the drawings and illustratepreferred positions, forms and arrangements of parts for operating theyarn bending units during couliering and during knitting and forelevating the needle bar.

As illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24, the yarn bending units are advancedsequentially during couliering by the direct engagement of their heelsby a slur cam 200 having tapered ends whose curvature may be slightlymore gradual than the curvature of the tapered ends of the slur camshown in Fig. 1. The slur cam 20a is moved longitudinally in ahorizontal plane, on a level with the plane of movement of the units 4,by a slur bar supported by a high bracket to reciprocate the slur cam insuch plane.

Between the couliering movements and during the knitting portion of thecycle, the units 4 are actuated by the catch bar 24 which is given agradual and substantially continuous movement. This movement of thecatch bar is effected by a lever 69A fixed to the shaft 88 insubstitution for the lever 69, there being a roller HA biased by gravityagainst the upper part of the periphery of the cam 12A fixed on the camshaft 36. A light spring 10A may be stretched between the end of thelever 69A and a hook on the frame to insure trackage of the roller HAwith the periphery of the cam 12A should the weight of the parts heinsuflicient to alone maintain the desired trackage.

When the cam 12A is in the position shown in Fig. 23, the catch bar ispositioned at the extreme left by the sup ort of the roller HA by a.high portion of the cam 12A. As the cam 12A rotates in the direction ofthe arrow, the eccentric surface thereof extending to approximately thepoint 12a, passes under the roller H A and permits the lever 69A togradually descend to move the catch bar gradually toward the rightduring couliering, the catch bar being elevated above the butts II or IIduring this movement. Such movement is rendered permissible by theelimination of the necessity for the usual continuous connection betweenthe catch bar and the upper dividers. As the portion of the camperiphery between the points 12a and 12b pass under the roller HA, thelever 69A descends more rapidly and the catch bar 24 is moved intoposition with its groove 25 above the butts, which have all beenadvanced against the verge plate by the slur cam. The catch bar 24 isthen caused to descend to engage the butts by the downward movement ofthe link 61 controlled by the cam ll of Fig. 18. The movement of theportion of the periphery of the cam 12A between the points 12b and Hegradually elevates the lever 69A and moves the catch bar and connectedunits 4 gradually leftward in synchronism with the movement of theneedle bar to close the beards and move the loops onto the knock-overbits. The movement of the portion of the periphery of the cam 12Abetween the points 120 and 12d beneath the roller HA gradually lowersthe lever 69A and moves the catch bar 24 and connected units 4 forwardin synchronism. with the rise of the needles after the completion of theknitting of the loops of the course. Thereafter the movement of theportion of the periphery of the cam 12A between the points 12d and Hebeneath the roller HA again gradually elevates the roller 1 IA andretracts the catch bar 24 and connected units 4 toward its lefthandmostposition, where it is lifted by the links 61 clear of its engagementwith the butts H or II to again permit couliering of the yarn bendingunits 4.

During couliering of the units 4 and the movement of the catch bar 24independently thereof, the needle bar is supported in its uppermostposil tion by means of a lever 33A which is fixed to the shaft 32 insubstitution for the lever 33, and is provided with a roller 34A whichengages the concentric portion of the periphery of the cam 35A to theleftward of the axis of the shaft 36 to which this cam is fixed.Theroller 34A is biased by gravity against the cam but its closetracking relationship with the cam may be further insured by the lightspring 31A stretched between the end of the lever 33A and the frame hook38A. During the leftward movement of the catch bar 24 with the connectedunits 4, the needle bar is caused to descend in synchronism therewith bythe passage of the eccentric portion of the cam 35A past the roller 34Ato move the needles into beard-closing and knitting positions, and thefurther movement of the eccentric portion of the periphery of the cam35A past the roller 34A causes the upward movement of the needle bar intimed relation with the movements of the catch bar so that the needlesare restored to their fully elevated position when the catch bar islifted free from the units} in their lefthandmost position. By soshaping the cams 35A and 72A and positioning the points of engagement ofthe rollers 34A and HA therewith, the actions of the cams are balancedto a considerable degree and the smoothness of the running of themachine is improved.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, aneedle bar movable into upper and lower positions, means for bendingyarn on said needles, including a catch bar, means for biasing saidcatch bar forward during the bending of said yarn on said needles, a camfor retracting said catch bar and a cam holding said needle bar in itsupper position during the bending of the yarn on said needles.

2. In a knitting machine, the combination with a' bank of needles, aneedle bar movable into upper and lower positions, means for bendingyarn on said needles, a cam moving said needle bar to its upper positionand holding it there during the bending of the yarn on said needles, acatch bar for operating said means, and mechanism including a cam formoving said catch bar away from said needles during the upward movementof said needles by said first named cam.

3. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, yarnbending devices movable in continuous sequence from one end of the bankto the other end forming loops on each of the active needles of saidbank, and a catch bar intermittently connected with and disconnectedfrom all of said devices and movable forward past some of saidsequentially movable devices during the sequential movement of the otherof said devices.

4. In a knitting machine, the combination with a needle bar and a needlefixed therein, means including a cam for operating said needle bar,means for laying a yarn along said needles, sinkers movable between saidneedles to kink said yarn, a catch bar for operating said sinkers enmasse immediately after the kinking movement of the last of saidsinkers, and a cam for operating said catch bar and having a surface ofdecreasing radius for moving said catch bar forward free from anysinkers and toward the couliered sinkers immediately upon the completionof the couliering of said sinkers, and thereby tending to preventbacklash of the machine at the end of couliering.

5. In a knitting machine, the combination with a needle bar havingneedles therein, of means ior bending ,a yarn to form concurrently toequal size a pair of bights on opposite sides of the shanks of alternateneedles of said bank, the bights of each pair having a common planetransverse to the axis of the adjacent needle, and means for knittingthe bent yarn.

6. The combination of a device for simultaneously forming a pair ofbights on opposite sides of the shank of a needle of a knitting machinewhich includes a sinker blade and a divider blade and a separatorbetween said blades to which they are both secured with means forholding a yarn in the path of movement of such blades in position forengagement by the notched portions of the moving blades simultaneously,the movement of each pair of blades between the needles bendingconcurrently to equal size a pair of bights.

7. The combination of a device for simultaneously forming a pair ofbights on oppos.te sides of the shank of a needle of a knitting machinewhich includes a member for engagement by an actuator, a member forengagement by a catch bar, a member forming a blade containng asinker-like notch, a member forming a blade containing a divider-likenotch and spaced from said first named blade, all of said members beingpermanently secured together with m-ans IOI holding a yarn in the pathof movement of such blades in position for engagement by the notchedportions or the moving blades simultaneously, the movement of each pairof blades between the needes bending concurrently to equal size of apair of bights.

8. The combination of a device for simultaneously forming a pair ofbights on opposite sides of the shank of a needle of a knitting machinewhich includes a pair of notched blades secured together so as to moveequally and simultaneously with means for holding a yarn in the path ofmovement of such blades in position for engagement by the notchedportions of the moving blades simultaneously, the movement of each pairof blades between the needles bending concurrently to equal size a pairof bights.

9. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, ofmeans for laying a yarn, means for bending the laid yarn to form insuccession pairs of bights on opposite sides of the shanks of alternateneedles of said bank, the bights of each pair being formedsimultaneously to equal size and having a common plane transverse to theaxis of the shank of the adjacent needle, the means for forming eachpair of bights including notched blades slidable together normally tothe axis of the needle shanks.

10. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, ofmeans for laying a yarn, means for bending the laid yarn to form insuccession pairs of bights on opposite sides of alternate needles ofsaid bank, the bights of each pair being formed simultaneously to equalsize, and having a common plane transverse to the axis of the adjacentneedle the means for forming each pair of bights including a slur camand a pair of blades movable together by the slur cam normally to and onopposite sides of the axis of the needle.

11. In a knitting machine, a bank of needles, means for laying a yarnalong said needles, means for looping the laid yarn on said needles andincluding notched blades slidable between each of the adjacent needles,means for consecutively advancing successive pairs of adjacent bladesbetween the needles until notch apexes of all the blades have passed theneedle line, each pair of blades concurrently bending to the same size apair of bights and means for simultaneously retracting all of theblades.

12. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, meansfor laying a yarn along the needles, and means for looping the laid yarnabout the shank of each needle of the active portion of the bank whilesuch bank is held stationary and including yarn bending blades andmechanism for consecutivelyadvancing successive pairs of adjacent bladesbetween the needles, each pair of blades concurrently bending to thesame size a pair of yarn bights.

13. In a knitting machine, the combination with a bank of needles, ofmeans for laying a yarn along the needles, and means for looping thelaid yarn about the shank of each needle oi the active portion of thebank while such bank is held stationary and including yarn bendng bladesand mechanism for consecutively advancing the yarn bending portions ofsuccessive pairs of adjacent blades between the needles, each pair ofblades concurrently bending to the same size a pair of yarn bights, themovement of each successive pair of blades being begun after themovement of the immediately preceding pair of blades has been completed.

14. In a full-fashioned knitting machine, a stationary bed for sinkingdevices having a stationary verge plate along one side thereof and astationary presser edge along the other side thereof, a needle barcontaining a bank or needles and movable rectilineally of the needlesand toward and from said presser plate, a series of yarn bending unitsmovable sequentially in said bed to positions controlled by said vergeplate, each unit comprising a pair of spaced blades movable onlyconcurrently and having notched portLns movable between said needles toform yarn bights of the same size at the same time on opposite sides ofthe shanks thereof in a common plane transverse to the axis of saidshanks, couliering means including a slur cam for moving said units insuccession against said verge plate, knockingover bits adjacent to saidpresser edge, means for moving'said needle bar to move said needlestoward and from said presser edge and to move said needlesrectilineally, said needles having shanks with a fixed spacing from saidverge plate during the couliering of said units, and a catch barretracting said units in unison during movement of said needle bar tomove said needles toward said presser edge, said catch bar alsoadvancing and retracting said units during the rectilineal movements ofsaid needles.

15. In a method of knitting, the steps which include bending yarn tosimultaneously form to equal size on opposite sides of a needle a pairof bights of yarn having a common plane transverse to the needle axisand connected by an open loop having legs engaging said needle onopposite sides thereof and knitting the bent yarn by drawing loops in adirection transverse to said plane.

16. In a method of knitting by means of a bank of spaced needles, thesteps which include forming bights of yarn on opposite sides of theshanks of active needles of the bank in succession by bending the yarnto form simultaneously to equal 70 size on opposite sides of thealternate active needles a pair of bights of yarn having a common planetransverse to the needle axis and connected by an open loop having legsengaging each such alternate needle on opposite sides thereof,

the bight formed on one side of one needle being connected with a bightformed on the opposite side of the next alternate needle by an open loophaving legs engaging the intermediate needle on opposite sides thereof,and knitting the bent yarn.

17. In a method of knitting by means of a bank of needles, the stepswhich include bending yarn to form simultaneously to equal size onopposite sides of a needle a pair of bights oi yarn having a commonplane transverse to the needle axis and connected by an open loop havinglegs engaging such needle on opposite sides thereof, and beneath theeye-opening oi the needle, one of said bights having a leg engaging aside or an adjacent needle and supporting both of said needles duringthe bending of such yarn adjacent to the point of engagement of the yarntherewith against bending toward or away from one another by the pullincident to the bending of said yarn, and knitting the bent yarn.

18. In a method of knitting by means of a bank of movable needles, thesteps which include bending yarn to form successive pairs of bights,both bights of a pair being concurrently formed to equal size, saidbights providing legs projecting between all the active needles whilesuch bank is stationary, and knitting the bent yarn.

19. In a method of knitting, the steps which include bendingyarn to formpairs of bights in succession, the bights, of each pair being formedsimultaneously to equal size. and having a common plane, and theformation of each succeeding pair of bights being started after thecompletion of the immediately preceding pair of bights, and knittingsimultaneously the entire length of yarn bent into bights.

20. In a method of knitting, the steps which include bending-yam to formpairs of bights in succession, the bights of each pair being formedsimultaneously to equal size, and the formation of each succeeding pairof bights being started after the completion of the immediatelypreceding pair of bights, all the bights being held stationary betweenthe completion of the formation of the respective bights and thebeginning of the knitting movement.

21. In a method of knitting by means of a movable bank of beardedneedles fixed relatively to one another, the steps which include bendingyarn to form in succession pairs of bights on opposite sides ofalternate needles of the bank, the bights of each pair being formedsimultaneously to equal size and'while the bank is stationary and havinga common plane normal to the axis of the adjacent needle below the freeend of the beard thereof, closing the beards of the needles by themovement of the bank of needles in one direction prior to any movementthereof in the opposite direction, and knitting the bent yarn.

22. A method of knitting on a full-fashioned knitting machine having asinker bed with a stationary verge plate and stationary presser edge onopposite sides thereof and a bank of needles movable in unisonrectilineally of the needles and toward and from the presser edge, whichincludes laying a yarn along said needle bank and bending it tosimultaneously form on opposite sides oi a needle shank a pair of bightsof yarn concurrently bent to the same size and having a common planetransverse to the axis of the needle shank, said bights being connectedby a loop engaging the peripheral portion of said shank disposed towardsaid presser edge below the eye-opening of said needle, moving said loopportion toward said presser edge and downward in a direction transverseto the common plane in which the bights were formed.

23. A method of knitting on a full-fashioned knitting machine having abed for sinking devices with a stationary presser edge along one sidethereof, knocking-over bits adjacent said presser edge, a bank ofneedles movable in unison rectilineally oi the needles and movabletoward and from said presser edge, and means for adjusting the extent ofmovement of such needles toward and from said presser edge, whichincludes laying a yarn along said bank and bending it to formsimultaneously on oppposite sides of the shank of each alternate needleof the effective portion of said bank, a pair of bights of yarnconcurrently bent to the same size and having a common plane transverseto the axis of such shank, said bights being connected by open loopseach engaging a single needle below the eyeopening thereof, moving saidloops towardsaid presser edge and then moving said loops downward in adirection transverse to the common plane in which the bights were formedtoward said knocking-over bits.

24. A method of knitting on a full-fashioned knitting machine having abed for sinking devices and a presser edge along one side thereof,knocking-over bits adjacent to said presser edge, and a bank of needlesmovable in unison rectilineally oi the needles and movable toward andaway from said presser edge, which includes laying a yarn along saidbank, and bending it to simultaneouslyform pairs of bights in successionon opposite sides of the shanks of alternate needles of the activesection of the bank, said bights being bent to lie in a common planenormal to the axes of the shanks, the formation of each succeeding pairof bights being commenced immediately after the completion of the nextpreceding pair of bights, and the bights, when all are completed, beingconnected by loops each engaging the shank of a single needle below theeye-opening of such needle, moving the loops toward said presser edge,and then moving the loops rectilineally of the needles and transverselyto the common plane in which the bights were formed toward saidknocking-over bits.

KURT WAECHTLER.

